Metal casing for leaf springs



` 1,624,683 April 12,1927. L' SKOK n METAL CASING FORA LEAF 'SPRINGS Filed Nov. 14. 1921 2 sheets-Sheet 2 yPatented Apr. 12, v1927.

s UNITED.l srn'i'its LAWRENCE SKOK, OF CLEVELAND,` OHIO,

PATENT oFFICE.

ASSIGNOR TO. THE APEX SPRING? COVE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

METAL cAsINe ron nner srnmes.

Application led November 14, 1921.

I have' found, however, that the pressure,A

between adjacent leaves easily forces the 4 lubricant outwardly, so that the interior 7 portion is not lubricated, even thou h the absorbent fabric is saturated with lu ricat- 1 ing material. A

i the flexing operation of the leaves.

Accordingly, to overcome the tendency of the 'spring to force the lubricant. outwardly, my invention contemplates the provvision of a casing which entirely surrounds the spring and rovides in eiect, apressure 'chamber w ich is adapted to yhold lubricant under pressure land still ermit n this connection,my invention is directed to- J ward the ada tation of av metal casing'` composed ofl articulated elements, such as is set forth in-Patent No. 1,284,482 issued to me on November 12, 1918, to this method ofhigh pressure lubrication. n

Another object is the. construction and arrangement of parts for enabling the de 'vice' to be readily' 'p attached to existing springs, without necessitating 'any changes in the construction thereof.

In carrying out .the above objects, Iv provide a -layer of exible, lubricantfproof material .which 'entirely surroundsthe spri'n s t'o be covered, and I' provide a metal ic easin inthe nature of an armor which is capa lev of `withstanding high intern'al pressure and' of still-permitting the*A leavesto be readil 'flexed In addition, provision is made or a valve for permits.

tin lubricant to be injected into the un er rassure' and to be'retained when tlie source o f suppl removed.

The means for accomp isli'ing the/'abo objects will be more fully -set fortliinth 'following -description which relates to drawings, and the essential characteristics will be summarized in tl iec1aims.` In the-drawings, Fig.-1 issn-elevation of a spring lubricating device embodying Serial N0. 514,912.

my invention; Fi 2 is a plan view of the device shown'in ig. 1; Fig. 3 is'a longitudinal section taken vertically through the spring shown in Figs. 1v and 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectionl taken on the line 4-41n Fig. 1; Figs'. 5,'6 and 7 are perspective views showing sections of the armored casing; Fig. 8vis a bottom view of vthe spring casing having portions thereof4 broken away to show the relative arrangement of the lubricator and casing.,

a I ii the` various figures, I have shown a sprln 'of' a semi-elliptic type having leaves 11, w ich are secured by the bolts 12 to the axle 13 and by customary ivot connections 14 to the frame 15. urrounding 4the leaves between the axle and frame, I provide a' dust-proof casing in the form of a pressure chamber for enabling lubricant tobe retained therein against pressure, exerted b the flexing action of the springs, so that t is exing action is utilized for permitting lubricant to flow between the leaves and to be retained therein, during their normal flexing operation. 4.

To retain the lubricant adjacent the leaves, I provide a layerof liquid-proof material 15,

such as heavy canvas, which entirely surrounds the springs and is overlapped asat 16 preferably on the bottom of the spring. This .layer extends the entire length of the spring etween the axle and frame,`and is arranged to be held-in close-fitting engagement therewith by means 4of a casing which will be now-described.

Extending 'u long the lower side of the spring, vI provide a strip 20 which is' substantially the width of the leaves and constructed .oflight sheet metal. This strip "abuts'th'e easing 15 and holds the overlapped- A,edges thereof together and in engagement withy the bottom of the s ring. The' armored casing'w ich surrounds the vjacket ih .comp'risesa plurality of sections `25, preferably formed o'f light sheet metal.

' 0r8ln.-1

pair' of' outwardly extending langes 26 adexteiidiuacrossthe top and sides of the spring; Enc section is provided vwith a acntthelottom of the spring .and with a rojectiong,'neA at 27, on one end which eoperate's with an elongated .cavity 28 on the S'fnearend of the adjacent sectionor allow-v v ingthe sprin `to flex. A rai130having inwardly exten ing flanges 31, which are complementary tothe flanges26, extends 1ongitudinally of and along the under side of the spring and is employed for holding the sections against the jacket 15. The rail and strip 20 therefore constitute a contmuous metallic casing. The ends of the strip E20 terminate in tongues 34, which project beyond the end sections, and which are arranged to be turned inwardly and over the ends of the rail so as to prevent it from moving relatively to the sections during the flexing operation of the springs.

After the jacket and casing are secured to the spring, the ends of the outside sections are crimped to the leaves whereby the interior constitutes in effect, a pressure chamber wherein lubricant may be forced under pressure and thereafter retained. The cooperating projections and cavities 27 and 28 still permit the sections intermediate the ends to move relatively to each other during the flexing operation without disturbing` the crimped end sections. Such flexing movement is then utilized for permitting the ubricant to flow between the leaves.

To permit the lubricant to be forced under pressure within the jacket, I have shown a threaded thimble which extends through the jacket 15, and through one ofthe sections 25 adjacent the side of the spring. rIhis thimble is arranged to receive a member 37 which may be equipped with a. spring operated ball valve 38 whereby lubricant may be forced into the chamber and be held therein.

From the foregoing description, it willv be seen that I have provided a spring lubricating device which is Well adapted for retainin lubricant under pressure, while still permitting a flexing operation to occur without permitting the retained lubricant to escape. An advantage of such constuction is, that since the lubricantis under pressure, the normal flexing operation results in permittin the lubricant to flow between the leaves. A urther advantage lies in the fact that the flexible jacket and armored casing ma be readily attached to existing springs wit out dismantling the motor vehicle.

Having thus described lny invention, I claim 1. A device of the character described comprising in combination, a spring having separate leaves, a cover therefor having a pressure chamber surrounding the springs, said chamber being formedby a jacket of fluid-proof material, and a remforcing metallic casin entirely surrounding and closely itting tinge jacket, said casing comprising sections of light sheet met-al having the ends vof adjacent sections overlapping each other,

and means for sealing the end sections, whereby lubricant under pressure may be retainedwithin said jacket.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a vehicle spring comprising separate leaves, of a fabric jacket exping of fluid-proof fabric extending entirely around the spring and having the ends thereof overlapping on the bottom of the spring, an impervious metallic casing surroundin and closely fitting the fabric and comprising individual sections overlapping each other, the twol end sections having the ends thereof anchored to the springs, and means extending through one ,of the sections and communicating with the interior of the jacket for permitting fluid under pressure to be injected Within said jacket,

-whereby a pressure may be built up within the'jacket to force the lubricant into said sprmg.

4. In a device o f the character described, the combination of a fabric jacket extending entirely around the spring, a casing enclosing and closely fitting the jacket and having the ends thereof sealed and anchored yto the spring whereby a pressure chamber is formed, said casing comprising rigid members placed end to end interfitting one with the other, means associated with the individual sections for permitting a flexing operation of the spring without breaking the seal, and avlubricant feeding device projecting laterally from the sides of the spring, said device being arranged to permit lubricant under pressure to be injected within they jacket sufficiently to force the lubricant between the leaves.

5; In combination, a laminated spring, al

covering therefor comprising an inner lu ricant impervious lining, a flexible -metallic jacket extending throughout the length` of the spring and secured at its ends in clamped relation to the spring and means in clamped relation with said casing and the lining for connect-ing the interior of the casing to'lubricant pressureand feeding means wherei by lubricants may be forced throughout the, length o f the lmmg and between the respectiv s ring leaves under high pressure.

lubricant receiving casing comprising an nner flexible lubricant impervious lining com- 1 pletely surrounding the spring leaves, an outer metallie reinforcing casing closely embracing the linlngyand grease gun coupling means. mounted on the casing including" clampmg means for tightening the lining to n combination a laminated spring, a y

the casing around aligned openings formed ,in the lining and casing.

7. In combination a laminated spring, a lubricant receiving casing comprising an inner flexible lubricant impervious lining comlubricant receiving casing comprislng an 1nner flexible lubricant impervious lining completely surrounding the spring leaves, an outer metallic reinforcing casing closely embracing the lining, a grease gun coupling means attached to the device including' a threaded anged member disposed between the lining and-the s ring to which the rease gun coupling mem er 1s adapted to e attached.

9. In combination a laminated spring, a lubricant receivingy casing comprising an inner flexible lubricant impervious lining, an outer metallic reinforcing' casing embracing and reinforcing the lining and grease gun coupling means attached to the casingV including an inner threaded thimble disposed between the lining and casing, an outer clamping washer-dlsposed exteriorly of the casing and a threaded coupling member engaging the thimble to cause the thim'ole and washer to compress the lining against the casing.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto aliix my signature.

LAWRENCE sKoK- 

